just a small clarification Victorian CPS is NOT a registration it is a permit to drive an unregistered car up to 90 days per year under strict conditions
1 must be roadworthy
2 must be a financial member of an affiliated club (either CAMS or AOMC)
3 logbook must be filled out before you move off
4 must be 25 years or older
anything else refer to learned gentle men (Pottsy )

As the owner of a "pre 89" import on club plates I find this thread interesting.

NSW seems to have a simpler system.

You get an application form that requires details of the owner, the car, certification by the club or a certified examiner that the car is roadworthy (our club requires you to get a Pink Slip) and club certification that the vehicle is eligeable for "conditional registration" (and that the owner is a financial member of the club). You then take your form ..and money:) to the shop front and Robert's your uncle.

Conditional registration is not transferable. If you sell the car the rego lapses and the new owner is responsible for re-registration.

In the case in question, the roadworthy inspector would be responsible for certifying that the vehicle has been correctly identified and the club registrar is responsible for certifying that the car is "eligeable" under the regulations (which are spelled out on the Gov website). It would be up the the owner to convince teh club official that teh car is at least 30 years old adn sunstantially in its as manufactured from (period modifications are acceptable).

Cheers, Ian

Just read the carsales ad... It says the car is actually from 1972 but body shell was replaced by a brand new UK shell in 2005 but then it was imported here in 2007 as a personal import.

I don't know where you would stand rego wise as I know we can't legally replace the body of the car but is that null and void as it was imported after that was done? It all sounds like too much of a headache when you could buy many other great minis for $17k.

Add my two cents worth............
If the vehicle is a genuine Personal Import it does not have to meed any ADR's.
The Compliance Plate authority is issued by the complying officer to determine that the vehicle meets basic safety standards. Personal Import authority is given irrespective of vehicle age.

I'm guessing the loop hole exploited here is that the vehicle was PI'd and may, or may not, have been declared as re-bodied. (The application doesn't ask or restrict).
(Have you owned the vehicle o/seas for more than 12 months? Were you o/seas for more than 12 months?)
So it gets into Oz and Complianced as basically 'safe'.
Next step is a Roadworthy, then rego. When applying for the CPS the owner then states "hey it's over 25 years old" and gets a CPS without stating anything about it being rebodied.
A genuine loophole?
Nothing illegal about any of the above steps.